Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Pre-Operative Unit Lead Nurse
The closing date is 25 November 2026

Job summary
To be the nurse lead nurse for the Pre-operative Assessment (POA) providing effective, professional nursing leadership and direction for the nursing workforce and the wider department team.

To be the clinical expert who uses specialist knowledge and skills to lead clinical expertise within POA and act as a role model of excellence for more junior staff.

To work with colleagues across the organisation to deliver the ambitions of the Trust's Strategic Plan.

Main duties of the job

• To manage the complex agenda of providing a leadership role across two sites as well as undertaking patient assessment/follow up clinics as required.
• To support difficult and challenging discussion relating to patient appointments and support the administration team in this process.
• To work with the Matron, service manager and clinical admin lead to provide an efficient pre-operative service.
• To ensure that the pre-operative assessment unit is efficient and maximising the opportunities for pre-assessment in line with national targets.
• To support the Clinical Matron in developing an innovative and positive culture within the POA.

About us
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It serves a population of around 470,000 people, a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £740 million.

RCHT is responsible for the provision of services at three main sites with approximately 780 inpatient beds:

• Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro
• St Michael's Hospital in Hayle
• West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities, and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles. This plays a vital part in attracting and retaining highly skilled teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who support the care of well over half a million people each year.

Details
Date posted: 11 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 156-8345347
Job locations: Pre Operative Assessment Unit - RCH and SMH, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro, TR1 3LJ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.
To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

• Identity Checks
• Professional registration and qualification checks
• Employment history and reference checks
• Occupational Health clearance
• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check
• Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit: https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation
We reserve the right to close this advert early.
We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.
We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse NMC PIN; Educated to a Degree level; Possession of relevant mentorship certification
• Desirable: Requirement to complete the Trust Managers Passport - within the first year in post if not already completed; Master's Level 7 qualification / willingness to obtain

Experience

• Essential: Post registration experience as a Senior Nurse (Band 6); Mentorship, supervision or teaching experience; Evidence of involvement in department/organisational change
• Desirable: POA experience; Budget management; Conflict resolution or performance management

Skills

• Essential: Excellent communication skills; Competent IT skills; Comfortable using video/telephone calling to patients

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Employer's website: https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Matron for ACCT, Mrs Kym Vigus, KYM.VIGUS@NHS.NET, 07789631804

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust's privacy notice